England started the continental championship with a win, and that’s the most important thing for both the team and the public. However, analyzing the game against Serbia for the BBC, the pundit and former national team player Rio Ferdinand was disappointed with the team’s unconvincing performance. “Alan Shearer said it in commentary there, we suffered. We we seem to lack a bit of composure in the moments. And it did get a little bit hairy at times. But I think you have to take what you can from the from that game, clean sheet, a new back pairing in it. What the world of good getting that clean sheet and a win’s a win. It’s not how you start at all, but it’s how you finish,” stated Ferdinand.EURO 2024: Three Lions, one impeccable Jude and a whole lot of worries for SouthgateFormer Man United defended didn’t stop there and criticized England’s lack of offensive ambitions and game control, especially in the second half.”Sometimes and subconsciously, we all do it when, when you’ve got a lead, you try to protect it. And I think that’s just the negative side in in what we’re seeing today. I just think with the players we have, we’ve got to be able to control games better, even when we’re not pushing for for another goal. I don’t want to be too critical, because England have won the game, but we’re just, we’re just talking about the positions. This is in the first half, and then look at the second of how much they have dropped. I just think panic stations set in, and if we want to go far in this tournament, we’ve got to be able to deal with the ball in these situations that can move us forward,” the 45-year-old said.##NAJAVA_MECA_8161492##Ferdinand didn’t miss the opportunity to praise Serbia and stated that the Three Lions would have to play much better against tougher opponents.”Tactically, I didn’t like what England did in the second half. They were sloppy in terms of positioning, they dropped a little bit deeper. I just think that the panic set in and Serbia and I said before the game, they’re a good team. They’re a physical team. They’ve got some really good players against a better team, you will get punished. And I know it’s only the start of the tournament, but it’s something they need to learn on and need to learn quick, because, yeah, in the second half, they were underwhelming,” Ferdinand warned.Southgate: ‘I won’t be here anymore if we don’t win the EURO 2024’Speaking for the BBC, former Chelsea and Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas highlighted the significance of mentality and pressure.”It’s all about the mentality. You cannot tell me that players like Trent, like Foden, like Bellingham, like Rice, they don’t have the quality to hold the ball anywhere in the pitch. But it’s about do you want it enough to make a difference and hold the ball for your team? Do you want to make things happen? Do you enjoy to get the ball under pressure?” wondered Cesc.Cesc Fàbregas on Phil Foden’s poor performance.Do you agree with him? #EURo2024 pic.twitter.com/TAxJShPtYG— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) June 17, 2024 The Spaniard then went on to point out the importance of responsibility, specifically underlining Phil Foden’s poor performance.”Yes, I didn’t think that the second half was a little bit underwhelming. I would say that the right word. And I think players like Foden, you know, they need to step up. You know, this is the time for them to grow into big tournament behind the countries behind them. Though the players, yes, need to take responsibility and show that composure, which we see in club football all the time,” Fabregas concluded.
